HY-Plugins has released HY-MBMFX, a multi-band effect in VST and AU plugin format for PC and Mac. The plugin is available in Free ($0) and Full ($42) versions.
The free version of HY-MBMFX is a 3-band FX unit with a single FX slot on each band. The plugin comes with a long list of available effects (20 in total), including a variety of filters, delay effects, bitcrushers, distortion, modulation effects, a compressor, and even a reverb. The included effects sound very good, as is expected from an HY-Plugins release. Each slot also features input and output volume controls, stereo width and pan adjustment, a brickwall limiter, and mono, solo, and bypass switches. The top part of the GUI hosts the preset manager, A/B testing and undo/redo buttons, whereas the two knobs on the bottom part of the interface allow the user to adjust the frequency band split points.
The full version ($42) of the plugin features everything mentioned above and adds a total of five FX slots per band, a master FX slot, and a master EQ. The up/down errors in the upper-right corner of each FX panel are used to change the order within the FX chain. All effects and their control parameters are fully documented in the manual which can be downloaded from the product page linked below.
HY-MBMFX was fully stable during our test in MuLab 7. The plugin feels rather well optimized, although the CPU usage will depend on the number of loaded effects. The user interface is well designed, easy to operate, and fully resizable. The controls are clear and nicely organized, so juggling between different effects isn’t a problem.
Even the free version of HY-MBMFX is incredibly versatile and will allow you to transform the processed audio signal into something completely different. It can be used for simple mixing tasks like forcing the low end of a stereo bass line to mono, for advanced multi-band dynamics processing, as well as a powerful multi-FX unit for sound design. Needless to say, the full version will let you take things even further. One thing worth noting is that the old HY-MBDrive plugin is now discontinued.
For me personally, the free version of HY-MBMFX is one of the most impressive freeware plugin releases so far this year. There aren’t many high-quality multi-FX plugins out there, let alone multi-band plugins which offer a choice of different effects on each frequency band. Once again, an impressive piece of music making software by HY-Plugins!
HY-MBMFX is available for free download via HY-Plugins (9.29 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/AU plugin format for Windows & Mac OS).
2 Comments
Angelo Furlan
onHY-MBDrive is discontinued? It was an amazing plugin! It seems this new one can pretty much get the same results, plus a lot more.
Tomislav Zlatic
onYes, I’m guessing that HY-Plugins decided to discontinue the old plugin because HY-MBMFX works as a complete substitute with additional features.